Parshat Eikev 5778

Parshat Eikev                 In this week’s portion we come to the only ברכה  - blessing mandated by the Torah according to all opinions. This blessing is the ברכת המזון - Birkat Hamazon, the Grace after meals. It is derived from…

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Parshat Vaetchanan 5778

Parshat Vaetchanan                 This week’s portion, ואתחנן  - Vaetchanan, which means “and I implored,” seems to begin in the middle of nowhere. Following the description in the end of the previous portion of how the Jewish people decimated the two…

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Tisha B’Av 5778

Tisha B’Av Napoleon once passed a shul in Paris on Tisha B’Av. Hearing crying and wailing coming from inside and thinking that there was something terrible going on, he stepped inside to see what he could do to help. What…

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